Srinagar, (UNI) Seven people, including a local doctor, were killed and four others injured in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Sunday evening, officials said.
The attack occurred at a camp near Gagangeer along the Srinagar-Leh highway, where both local and non-local workers were stationed while working on the construction of the strategic 6.5 km Z-Morh tunnel project.
According to officials, militants suspected to be two in number opened indiscriminate fire on the workers, resulting in two non-local labourers dying on the spot.
Nine others, including a local doctor, sustained injuries. Five of the injured including the doctor later succumbed to their wounds, officials said.
Officials said out of seven fatalities, at least four were non-local workers.
A massive search operation is underway to track down the militants responsible for the attack. Top J&K police and senior Army officers have reached the spot and are monitoring the operation to trace the attackers.
J&K Police have not yet confirmed the number of casualties in the attack.
“Terror incident in Gagangeer, Ganderbal. Area cordoned off by security forces,” Kashmir Police Zone said in a post on X.
The attack has been widely condemned.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces
“The dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir, J&K, is a despicable act of cowardice. Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces. At this moment of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured,” Shah posted on X.
Lt. Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha, while condemning the attack, assured the people that those behind the despicable act would not go unpunished.
“We have given full freedom to J&K Police, Army and Security forces. Our brave personnel are on the ground & they will ensure terrorists pay heavily for their action. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families. Praying for speedy recovery of the injured. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the families in this hour of grief,” Sinha said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while condemning the attack called the incident a “dastardly and cowardly” attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg.
“Very sad news of a dastardly & cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region”, Omar posted on X.
“These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. Two have been killed & 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people & send my condolences to their loved ones”, J&K CM said.
The attack was also condemned by other mainstream parties.
This is the second targeted attack on non-locals in Kashmir in the last three days. On October 18, Ashok Chouhan,30, hailing from the Banka district of Bihar, was shot dead by unidentified militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district. His bullet-ridden body was recovered from the Wachi area of Shopian.
